Winter Wellness Preparation for Primary Care

Winter Vaccination Programme

The winter vaccination programme begins in September and October for various patient groups outlined below.

The COVID-19 autumn vaccination programme runs from 1st October 2026 to 31st January 2027 alongside flu vaccines.

The COVID-19 programme covers adults aged 75 and over, as well as residents of care homes for older adults, and those with immunosuppression from six months old.

From 1st September 2026, the flu offer covers:

• Pregnant women.
• All children aged 2 or 3 years (on 31st August 2026).
• Primary and secondary school aged children (reception to year 11).
• Individuals 17 years of age and over attending a special education needs school (SEN) who are in a clinical risk group.
• All children in clinical risk groups aged from 6 months to under 18 years.

From 1st October 2026:

• People aged 65 and over.
• Individuals aged 18 to under 65 years in clinical risk groups.
• People in long-stay residential care homes.
• Carers receiving carer's allowance, or the main carer of an elderly or disabled person.
• Frontline social care workers without an employer occupational health scheme.
• Close contacts of immunocompromised individuals.

Vaccination eligibility is unchanged except for people experiencing homelessness aged 16 and over, who gain eligibility from 1st October 2026.

GPs are asked to vaccinate 2 and 3 year old patients first as soon as vaccine is available to reduce transmission and protect the vulnerable.

Williams Medical Supplies' large range of pharmaceuticals helps primary care teams to stock essential vaccines ready for flu season, so GP surgeries can get ahead of the winter demand.

Most vaccinations should be complete by the end of November, with flu season typically peaking around December to January.

Storing vaccines correctly during this period plays an important role in making the seasonal vaccine appointments run smoothly.

Cold Chain Vaccine Storage

The Green Book requires vaccines to be stored at +2°C to +8°C. A medical fridge with a data logger holds vaccine stock in the correct range and records the temperatures your practice needs for inspection.

With flu and COVID-19 vaccines both being stored and used from your fridges during the winter months, checks need to happen at least once a day, and ideally twice.

Any temperature check reading outside the +2°C to +8°C range for more than 20 minutes calls for inspection.

Our range of medical fridges includes freestanding and undercounter fridges, data loggers and transport carriers, as well as medical freezers, so a full cold chain set-up, from delivery to clinic, comes from one account.

Once vaccines are stored safely, the same winter months bring norovirus and other bugs that spread through contact with surfaces and hands.

Surface and Hand Hygiene

Norovirus circulates heavily each winter, and it can survive on hard surfaces for hours, spreading through schools, care homes and hospitals.

Alcohol gel does not kill norovirus, so soap and water for hands, alongside disinfectants for surfaces, remain the main defence during norovirus outbreaks.

Williams Medical Supplies' range of surface wipes and cleaning products covers most cleaning tasks across your practice, from routine surface cleaning to spill response.

Alongside clean hands and surfaces, PPE works to reduce the spread of infection during patient contact in the winter months.

PPE and Infection Control

During the winter months, primary care settings experience a surge in footfall, usually driven by respiratory illnesses.

Infection control guidance sets out when staff should use a surgical mask and when to use a respirator.

An FFP3 respirator needs fit testing for each wearer, plus a fit check every time it goes on. In this higher risk environment, PPE and IPC products help to maintain workforce resilience, protect the vulnerable, and ensure a continual service for patients.

Our PPE range covers masks, aprons, gowns and overshoes, so a practice can restock everything needed to protect staff and patients in one place.

With PPE being a priority for staff protection, medical gloves play an important role in minimising the spread of seasonal viruses.

Medical Gloves

Winter brings a rise in appointments for coughs, colds and bugs, and many of those examinations call for a fresh pair of gloves.

Medical gloves are part of standard infection control practice for any task involving contact with blood or bodily fluids.

The material used depends on the procedure and anyone in the room who struggles with latex allergies.

Our range of gloves includes:

• Medical nitrile gloves
• Vinyl examination gloves
• Latex gloves
• Surgeons and sterile gloves
• Latex-free gloves

We also stock a range of wall mountable gloves holders, designed to be easy to clean and hold most brands of gloves.

Once you have PPE and gloves in place, attention next turns to identifying what is driving a patient's symptoms this winter.

Winter Diagnostic Testing

During the winter months, primary care professionals face the challenge of being presented with similar respiratory symptoms.

Influenza, RSV, and other bacterial infections surge during the colder months.

Testing at the point of care can identify which one is present during the same appointment.

Point of care testing supports antimicrobial stewardship, and NICE recommends a CRP test for adults with an LRTI when antibiotics are in doubt.

Our diagnostics range covers infectious disease tests alongside thermometers, pulse oximeters and other point of care equipment for winter assessments.

Together, these five categories help to support primary care teams through flu season, from delivering seasonal vaccination programmes safely, to protecting staff and vulnerable patients during the winter months.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to wear gloves and an apron for every single patient appointment in a flu vaccination clinic?

No. Vaccine administration is a minimal contact procedure. Glove and apron use is not recommended for administering standard intramuscular injections, unless exposure to blood or bodily fluids is anticipated, or if the person administering the vaccine has broken skin on their hands. Thorough hand hygiene using alcohol-based sanitisers or hand washing between patients remains the standard for infection control.

When should I upgrade from a fluid-resistant surgical mask (FRSM) to an FFP3 respirator?

Consider an FFP3 respirator during aerosol generating procedures, or when a pathogen spreads via an airborne route. An FRSM remains the standard for droplet precautions when within one metre of the patient. FFP3 respirators require fit testing for each wearer, and a fit check every time the respirator is worn.

Does hand gel kill norovirus?

No. Norovirus is resistant to alcohol. Soap and water are recommended for hand hygiene, and chlorine-based disinfectants are recommended for surfaces.

Can a GP practice test for flu and COVID at the same time?

Yes. Combined point-of-care tests (POCT) are available that detect flu and COVID-19 from a single swab. Some POCT also cover RSV and give test results in minutes. Diagnostic accuracy varies between products and the virus being tested. Check performance data for a specific test before relying on the result for a clinical decision.

Do nitrile gloves protect against norovirus?

Partially. Gloves act as a barrier and reduce hand contamination during patient contact or on a contaminated surface. However, norovirus can survive on a glove's surface, which can lead to contaminated hands when removing gloves, so hand hygiene straight after is still necessary.